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Tag: NFLRA

Embed from Getty Images Jim Quirk Sr., NFL officiating veteran and executive director of the NFL Referees Association, the officials union, is retiring from his post, according to an Associated Press report. Quirk has been executive director since 2013. Former NFL referee and former president of the NFLRA, Scott Green, will replace Quirk. Green was…

Embed from Getty Images Roughing the passer could be subject to review It may still be a long-shot for 2017, but the NFL continues to consider adding an eighth official. Dean Blandino, senior vice president of officiating, says the league is considering adding an eighth official and that addition might free up the referee…

Embed from Getty Images Update, 4/11: The union meetings have concluded, and Jim Quirk remains as the executive director. The matter of replacing Quirk did not come to a vote at the meetings that were “sparsely attended,” according to one union member. Football Zebras has not been in contact with all of the sources…

Commentary by Mark Schultz I have had a lot of thoughts going through my mind as the football season nears the halfway point. Fan reaction to tough judgement calls or admitted errors on various message boards — including our forum, Behind the Football Stripes — have summoned overheated calls for the termination of individual officials…

Possible staffing shortage could cause Week 17 shuffle The Week 9 Sunday Night Football game in Green Bay featured a very rare sight. Umpire Tony Michalek was pressed into duty as a line judge. Michalek, who worked as a line judge for a few seasons in the Big Ten Conference before moving to umpire, served…

Commentary by Mark Schultz The NFL season has gotten off to a contentious start between the front office and the NFL Referees Association, the union representing the on-field and replay officials. The NFLRA has accused the league of throwing the game officials under the bus publicly while supporting their calls privately. This controversy has even…

League has several shoes to fill in the offseason The Super Bowl is fast fading into the rear view mirror and we now enter what is called the “dark period” in regard to NFL officiating. According to the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association, there is to be no formal…

NFL executive oversaw officiating department during tenure Ray Anderson, NFL executive vice president of football operations, will leave his position at the end of the 2013 season to “pursue other opportunities” according to a statement from the National Football League. In the statement, commissioner Roger Goodell said of Anderson, “Ray’s wide-ranging experience in football…

NFL Referees Association denounces Ellison suspension The NFL has suspended umpire Roy Ellison (#81) for one game for a “profane and derogatory” statement to the Washington Redskins’ Trent Williams. According to multiple reports, Ellison is supposed to have referred to Williams as “a garbage ass disrespectful motherfucker.” In a statement, the NFL commented, NFL game officials are…

The replay officials are now under collective bargaining agreement through 2020, having worked the first four weeks of the season on an expired deal. Replay officials are on a separate collective bargaining agreement from the on-field officials. Last year, the on-field officials were locked out by the league, until an agreement was reached in Week…